Holidays can be stressful for parents of children with food allergies, especially since most holidays are focused around food. We want our children to feel included but we also want to keep them safe.
A big decision parents of children with food allergies have to make this time of year is should they let their children trick-or-treat or not? We have pondered this same question and have decided that without a doubt, our son with multiple food allergies will be trick-or-treating with his big brothers later this month.
Preparing for our son to safely trick-or-treat will take some extra effort on our part, but it is worth it to us for him to feel included in this fun Halloween tradition. Our son won’t be able to eat many of the treats he receives trick-or-treating this year, but we won’t let that stop him from having fun.
Here are some steps you can take to be sure Halloween is safe and fun for your child with multiple food allergies.
Safe trick-or-treating with multiple food allergies.
- Shop for safe treats – Finding ready-made holiday treats for any child with food allergies is challenging, but with a little time and patience it can be done. This year, we were able to find a few new treats for our son, including mini boxes of raisins, Dum Dum suckers and Smarties.
- Bake your own safe snacks – For the past year I have made holiday themed chocolate candies (recipe) for our son with multiple food allergies that the entire family enjoys. They are quick and easy to make, and he loves having a safe treat he can share with his brothers and feel included.
- Prepare a safe trick-or-treat bag in advance – Before we even start trick-or-treating, we will add some safe treats to our son’s trick-or-treat bag. This way, when his older brothers grab a piece of candy to eat while trick-or-treating, we know he will be able to reach into his bag and pull out a safe treat to snack on too.
- Don’t forget medication – No matter how carefully you prepare for trick-or-treat with your child, don’t forget to bring all their medication including Epi pens. No one wants to have an allergic reaction while out having fun, but it’s best to be prepared just in case.
With a little preparation and a positive attitude, Halloween and trick-or-treating can still be stellar for any child with food allergies.
Will your child with food allergies trick-or-treat this year? What steps do you take to make sure your children have a fun and safe holiday?
Image courtesy of Flickr.
About Stacy Molter
[...] this month I presented two articles, Halloween Chocolate Candy and Lollipops Recipe and Trick or Treating with Food Allergies, to help you have a fun and enjoyable Halloween with food [...]